this is some crazy stuff. i'm surprised none of the metal heads posted about this. i've heard/have the bootleg of this incident. they cut off the power in the middle of 3 songs. link Iron Maiden have hit back at Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne after their headlining set at Los Angeles’ Hyundia Pavillion was allegedly sabotaged by Ozzfest crew. In a statement, the band’s label said: “As many of you now know, Sharon Osbourne and assorted hangers-on dramatically and deliberately sabotaged Iron Maiden's final performance on the Ozzfest on Saturday 20 August in Los Angeles. As a result of further developments Iron Maiden will respond to Sharon and co's inflammatory and upsetting behaviour later today.” Reportedly, Bruce Dickinson and co were pelted with eggs, beer, bottle caps and other missles by what appeared to be Ozzfest tour crew in the front row. As the band continued their set, they found the PA cutting on several occasions and interference from unnamed members of a rival crew. While Sharon Osbourne came on stage to thank Iron Maiden for playing Ozzfest, she was reportedly given boos and a number of missles for her trouble. On the band’s official web site, www.ironmaiden.com, Maiden thanked fans for “giving us such a great response at the end of a difficult set. It was obvious to all there that we had a 'series of unfortunate events' throughout! These made it difficult for us to keep our momentum but your incredible support certainly helped us get through it. We guess it all adds up to a pretty memorable gig though! This is, however, a Metal Festival. It is supposed to be fun for all. You fans pay very good money to be there and deserve to get a full and unhindered performance from all the bands. This was not the case last night. “So with this rather bizarre end to a good tour we are returning to the UK today for the Leeds and Reading Festivals and once again thanks to all of you who came out to see us these last few weeks.” A further statement is expected later today (August 23)…
I often wondered if they realized that Bruce Dickinson was the singer from Iron Maiden when they did that skit.
It's a damn shame how they screwed with the greatest metal band of all time. From the Iron Maiden website... 23/08/2005 OZZFEST - SAN BERNARDINO AUG 20 Maiden are currently returning from America and preparing for UK festivals this weekend and don't wish to waste time giving Sharon Osbourne's statement the dignity of a reply. Considering the disgraceful nature of the events that occurred they feel it's a pretty dismal effort at self justification and they don't think Metal fans are at all gullible and that they will easily see through it. They want no more to do with this sorry incident and are very much looking forward to headlining Reading and Leeds Festivals this weekend. I would however like to add my own comment on this. In 30 years in this business and after attending hundreds of gigs l have never seen anything anywhere near as disgusting and unprofessional as what went on that night. I was standing on our sound desk out front as usual but ran to the stage as soon as the hail of missiles began and from then on watched from the front of the stage right next to Bruce's walkway. The scale, viciousness and concentration of the throwing made it obvious that this was a premeditated and co-ordinated attack. Assaulting musicians while performing by throwing bottle tops, lighters and eggs at them from just a few yards away is vile, dangerous, criminal and cowardly. It is incredible that Ozzfest security apparently did nothing about it - aren't they there to protect the bands too? Especially when the band is concentrating on a performance in front of 45,000 people and the missiles are coming out of the glare of the spotlights. And to spit at a band on stage is unforgivable. Iron Maiden, like all the bands on Ozzfest, had to sign quite onerous legal documents part of which was promising not to throw anything into the audience, even wristbands!!! Ironic isn't it. It is well documented on the web who was responsible for planning and participating in this attack and for musicians to join in this assault on other musicians is a shocking disgrace akin to treachery. You should all be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves. We know who authorised the making of the 'ozzy - ozzy' chant tape the day before and how it was played secretly through the PA at the very beginning and end of our set. We also know who continually turned off the power interrupting our set at crucial moments. It is a good thing that the power was turned back on before there was a riot as you could sense on stage a lot of the huge audience were getting totally pissed off at this continual onslaught on the band. The great majority of the Ozzfest crew throughout the tour were terrific and we thank them. Those who participated or stood idly by and watched as this all went down should also be ashamed of themselves and l would certainly hope they never come near a tour with which we are involved. There is little point in my commenting on the chap with the flag or their trying to hold up Eddie or Sharon's speech as the audience made their feelings very clear on each occasion. And in the end what was all this about?? If l had any sort of problem or misunderstanding with a band working on a tour we were involved in l would go and talk to them or their manager - not wait until the end of a tour and assault and ambush them. Or was that really it? I find it staggering that this ambush would take place in front of any audience, let alone in San Bernardino, the biggest audience of the tour. Didn't that audience merit any consideration? They pay an awful lot to be there in terms of prices for tickets, parking, food, beer etc. Surely if they spend this sort of money they deserve to watch the bands they paid to see be able to put in a full unhindered performance. Free of danger and intimidation. If I had paid I would ask for my money back! And this audience really were outstanding, giving the band incredible support and many voting with their feet in disgust after the set and the speech, which to many was the final insult. I have to say l was immensely proud of Maiden who stood up to it all and showed great courage and just got better and better through the adversity. Their heads never dropped, instead they went on the offensive. It was a truly memorable moment when Bruce went to the very front of the stage during Trooper - something which he never normally does as he is usually on the ramps - waving the flag whilst avoiding the hail of missiles and yelling 'This is a ****ing British flag, and these colours don't ****ing run!'. The imperturbable attitude and ability of the band shone through and in the end made this a truly remarkable rock and roll event, even if for all the wrong reasons. We will have no more to say on this matter except that l do think the band deserve an apology from a number of people, and you know who you are. ROD SMALLWOOD MANAGER, IRON MAIDEN CHAIRMAN, SANCTUARY ARTIST MANAGEMENT
It must be a b**** to see a great live band like Maiden blow away the headliners every night....I can see how the rival crew would be jealous and try to sabotage their final set...it was revenge for Maiden handing Sabbath their heads on a daily basis.. at least Bruce didnt have to cancel every couple of shows cause his voice wouldnt hold out...Ozzy was once a awesome frontman nad will always be a legend...but he is done..stick a fork in him..butter him up...he is toast.
Too bad his delusional wife doesn't understand that. (Of course, I would argue that he was done after Randy died, but you know I'm partial to Randy so take it with a grain of salt) She's like a modern day Yoko Ono. She seems to piss off every band she works with.
WOW...I've heard of turning lemons into lemonade, but this is unreal. I was reading all the different boards in regards to this incident, and you would think that Iron Maiden were conquering heroes. And a lot of the reviews from other cities were talking about how they absolutely stole the show when they performed there. That doesn't surprise me, though, since no one out-performs Maiden live. It's a shame that they have left before Ozzfest comes to Charlotte. I might have bought a ticket if they were a part of it here. Instead, we get Velvet Revolver in their place.
Sharon's side of the story: Sharon Osbourne admits role in Iron Maiden flap By Ray Waddell 1 hour, 11 minutes ago NASHVILLE (Billboard) - In a statement released Thursday night, Ozzfest organizer Sharon Osbourne admitted a role in the incident that marred Iron Maiden's August 20 tour performance in Devore, Calif. -- specifically, that she cut off the band's sound on several occasions. Iron Maiden also was pelted with eggs and debris from the front of the pavilion during its performance, which was its last on the festival's tour. Osbourne did not take responsibility for those actions. She previously claimed that Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson repeatedly disrespected her husband Ozzy during the tour, and that other Iron Maiden members were ashamed of Dickinson's behavior. In her new statement, which doubles as an open letter to Maiden manager Rod Smallwood, she said, "For 20 shows we were forced to hear Dickinson's nightly outbursts from the stage: 'When we come back to America, we'll be back with a proper sound system' or 'We won't be playing the same old songs every night (like (Black) Sabbath),' 'We don't need a teleprompter (like Ozzy)' and 'We don't need a reality show to be legit (again, like Ozzy)."' Sharon Osbourne explained cutting Maiden's power in part by saying, "Was Dickinson so naive to think that I was going to let him get away with talking s**t about my family night after night? I don't think he realizes who he's dealing with." She signed the letter as the "real Iron Maiden." Earlier this week, Smallwood said he had "never seen anything anywhere near as disgusting and unprofessional as what went on that night."
A teleprompter??? Uh, I'm sorry but if Ozzy really is using a teleprompter, that is worthy of much ridicule. That's a pretty tell tale sign that it's time to hang it up.
I find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that Iron Maiden would just decide to go off and start bashing the show out of the blue for no reason at all. IMO it is a result of some type of difference between Iron Maiden and Sharon and if Maiden made those remarks on stage (which are truly funny and sad to me about the Osbournes - especially because I can see it all as the truth) and then Sharon wants to act like a victim and that she had the right to deny PAYING fans the ability to see the bands they PAID to see, then that is just truly sad. I used to really admire Ozzy and Sharon. But this whole incident reeks foul from Sharon. I have heard of numerous times of past Ozz-fest's that she is horrible to work for and is very overbearing and can be a complete and utter beech. And then when Maiden (being the most awesome band that they are) is showing up all of the other bands because of their great stage and musical performance, well then EXCUSE ME Mrs. Osbourne that the best band on the tour was just doing what they do best. Sharon should just tell Kelly (who sings like Ashley Simpson) Osbourne to remake another one of her father's songs because of her lack of personal creativity, and just work on that career. Oh wait, that's why you don't hear anything from her daughter anymore, becasue she has NO TALENT, soooooo Mommie Sharon just keeps making more shows for her husband so she can keep the money rolling in, because even though Poppa Ozzy is run down and needs a teleprompter, a walker, and an I.V. - Sharon is just gonna ride that 'ole bull for all he is worth or until he dies. And now a modified Maiden Song for Mrs. Osbourne… The Evil That “SHARON” Do Adrian Smith, Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris Love is a razor and I walked the line on that silver blade Slept in the dust with his daughter, her eyes red with The slaughter of innocence But I will pray for her I will call her name out loud I would bleed for her If only I could see her now Living on a razors edge Balancing on a ledge Living on a razors edge The evil that SHARON do lives on and on..... The evil that SHARON do lives on and on..... The evil that SHARON do lives on and on..... The evil that SHARON do lives on and on..... Circle of fire my baptism of joy at an end it seems The seventh lamb slain, the book of life opens before me But I will pray for you And some day I may return Don't you cry for me Beyond is where I learn Living on a razors edge Balancing on a ledge Living on a razors edge The evil that SHARON do lives on and on..... The evil that SHARON do lives on and on..... The evil that SHARON do lives on and on..... The evil that SHARON do lives on and on..... Or if that song isn't the one, then just sing along with Charlotte the Harlot... err ummm... "Sharon" the Harlot
